Diabetes and Weight Management
12:52 PM
It's hard to flip
through a magazine or surf a health website without getting the lowdown on
weight. The general idea: Being active and eating healthy are the best ways to
manage weight.
This advice works for
everybody, but it can be particularly helpful for people with diabetes. That's
because weight can influence diabetes, and diabetes can influence weight. This
relationship may be different for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but the end
advice is the same: Managing weight can really make a difference in a person's
diabetes management plan.
Weight and Type 1 Diabetes
If a person has type 1 diabetes but hasn't been treated yet, he or she
often loses weight. In type 1 diabetes, the body can't use glucose (pronounced: gloo-kose) properly because the pancreas no longer
produces insulin that's needed to get glucose into the cells.
Then the body flushes
the unusable glucose (and the calories) out of the body in urine, or pee. As a
result, the person can lose weight. After treatment for type 1 diabetes,
though, a person usually returns to a healthy weight.
Sometimes, though,
people with type 1 diabetes can be overweight, too. They may be overweight when
they find out they have diabetes or they may become overweight after they start
treatment. Being overweight can make it harder for people with type 1 diabetes
to keep their blood sugar levels under control.
Weight and Type 2
Diabetes
Most people are overweight when they're diagnosed with type 2
diabetes. Being overweight or obese increases a person's risk for
developing type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes have a condition called insulin
resistance in which their
bodies are able to make insulin, but can't use it properly to move glucose into
the cells. As a result, the amount of glucose in the blood rises. The pancreas
then makes more insulin to try to overcome the problem.
Eventually, the
pancreas can wear out from working overtime and may no longer be able to
produce enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels within a normal range. At
this point, a person has type 2 diabetes.
People
who don't have diabetes also can have insulin resistance. People with insulin
resistance are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes if they don't already
have it.
People
with insulin resistance are often overweight and don't exercise very much. But
weight loss, eating healthier foods and portion sizes, and getting exercise can
actually reverse insulin resistance.
For
people with type 2 diabetes, reversing insulin resistance makes it easier to
get blood sugar levels into a healthier range. For those who have insulin
resistance but not diabetes, reversing insulin resistance can reduce the risk
that they'll develop diabetes.
Managing Your Weight
Getting
to and staying at a healthy weight helps you feel better and have more energy,
and being at a healthy weight also reduces the risk of heart disease and other
health problems. Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight may also help you
reduce diabetes symptoms and control your blood sugar levels.
Your doctor will let you know if you should lose weight to
control your diabetes. Doctors usually use your weight and height to calculate
your body mass
index (BMI ), which helps them
judge whether your weight is healthy.
If
you're overweight, don't feel bad about it or guilty about your diabetes (lots
of people who don't have diabetes need to lose weight, too!). Instead, take
action. Use your meal plan, exercise, and medications to reach and maintain a
healthier weight. It won't happen overnight.
Weight
management offers special challenges for people with diabetes. Here are some
tips:
·
Forget fad diets. The latest fad in losing pounds — whether it involves starving
yourself or cutting out food groups — can cause major problems when it comes to
controlling your blood sugar. Instead, follow your meal plan — it's tailored
just for you and your unique needs.
·
Stick to the insulin schedule. It's very important that people with diabetes don't skip insulin
injections to lose weight. Putting off or skipping injections can lead to very
high blood sugar levels and even a dangerous condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (pronounced: keh-toe-as-ih-doe-sis), which
can lead to coma.
·
Watch the snacking. Some people may eat too many snacks because they're afraid that
their blood sugar levels will get too low. This can lead to weight gain. Follow
your diabetes plan and take your medications at the right times to avoid these
problems.
·
Turn the table on cravings. Everyone has cravings now and then. But when people with diabetes
sneak extra candy or sweets, it can push blood sugar levels up. Then when you
take more insulin to bring your sugar back down, it can lead to gaining extra
body fat. Talk to your doctor or a parent if you feel like you don't get to eat
sweets or other foods as much as you like. And try some tricks for managing
cravings, such as taking a walk or brushing your teeth.
If
you need more info about diabetes and how it affects your weight, or if you're
worried about it, talk to a member of your diabetes health care team. Your team
can help you learn healthy ways to make it easier to manage your weight, so
don't hesitate to take advantage of their knowledge and expertise.
Excerpts taken from “Weight and Diabetes” Reviewed by: Steven
Dowshen, MD. Read more at http://teenshealth.org/teen/diabetes_center/basics/weight_diabetes.html#
Best Teen Diets recommends healthy well balanced that
includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and low-fat or fat-free
dairy. We offer nutrition information for teens, parents and educators that
emphasizes the importance of healthy eating for teens. For more information
visit www.bestteendiets.org
1 comments
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